Paste applicator



1967 J. TALARICO 3, 4,7 7

PASTE APPLICATOH Filed Dec. 3, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 2 v LAWRENCE J. TALAFZICO HTTOENEV Oci. 3, 1967 L. J. TALARICO 3,344,767

PASTE APPLICATOR Filed Dec. 5, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 V l 27 :"Z$

My m f f! il 30 INVENTOR.

LAWRENCE J. THLHEICO HTTORNE V 1967 J. TALARICO PASTE APPLICATOR 3 heets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 5, 1963 -lEl.

INVENTOR. LAWRENCE J. TALAEICO HTTOENE f United States Patent 3,344,767 PASTE APPLICATOR Lawrence J. Talarico, South Plainfield, N.J., assignor to Union Camp Corporation, a corporation of Virginia Filed Dec. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 327,757 2 Claims. (Cl. 118-2) The present invention relates to improvements in paste application. More particularly it pertains to an applicator for applying paste or adhesive to the flap or flaps of a container for closing and sealing such container.

This device is particularly adapted to register a given volume of adhesive on the inner flaps of a carton as it is being formed and closed so that it may be sealed. It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a paste applicator which will efficiently close and seal a container.

A further object is to provide a device which can apply registered adhesive in controlled amounts in virtually any plane or in any pattern.

A further object is to provide a paste applicator which will function efiectively with virtually any liquid adhesive.

A further object is to provide a self contained unit for the application of paste which has distinct advantages over pressurized tank systems.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a carton showing applicators applying paste to the top and bottom flaps of the carton;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the check valve assembly from the paste cylinder and piston side;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 from the discharge side;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 2 showing both balls seated;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 3 showing the lower ball unseated as on the suction stroke;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 5 showing the upper ball unseated as on the pressure stroke;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the check valve assembly showing its relation to the paste cylinder and .piston and discharge duct plate;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of the lower paste applicator and reservoir;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of the upper paste applicator and reservoir;

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 1111 of FIGURE 10.

Referring to the drawings there is shown in FIGURE 1 the relationship of the upper and lower paste applicators to the carton as the paste is being applied to the upper and lower inner flaps of the carton. These applicators are normally fixed and as the carton passes between them a signal is received by the upper, lower or both paste applicators to start and stop the delivery of paste.

FIGURES 8 and 9 show a complete assembly of the lower paste applicator, which is made up of a pot or 5 ice reservoir 20, check valve assembly 21, internal paste cylinder assembly 22, paste applicator post 23, nozzle body 24, nozzle plate 25, external air cylinder 26, and triggering mechanism 27.

The reservoir 20 houses a thermoswitch block 28, a thermoswitch 29 for controlling paste temperature and means for adjusting same (not shown). A series of strip heaters 30 are secured to the outside bottom of the reservoir. These heaters are the main source of heat applied to the bottom of the reservoir for heating the paste to any required temperature. Such heating serves to bring paste to the most desirable viscosity for best flow and application.

The check valve assembly 21, as shown in FIGURES 2 to 6 inclusive, consists of a body 31, an upper check ball 32a, an upper ball seat 33a, a lower check ball 32b and a lower ball seat 33b. Secured to the intake side of the assembly 21 by four screws 34 is the internal cylinder assembly 22. Similarly secured by screws 35 to the discharge side of the assembly is the lower paste applicator post 23 (FIGURE 7).

The internal paste cylinder assembly consists of a body 36, a piston core 37, chevron packing rings 38, a washer 39 and screw 40 for'retaining the rings on the core. Within the cylinder is a coupling 41 which rigidly connects the core 37 and its components to the piston rod 42 of the outside air cylinder 26. Such cylinder 26 is secured to the side of the reservoir, in line with the internal cylinder 22, by means of plate 43, spacers 44 and screws 45. The piston rod 42 passes through a hole in the reservoir wall. The air cylinder 26 provides power for moving the slideably connected internal members of the cylinder 22.

It will be understood that the motion of such air cylinder could be accomplished by other means such as a solenoid mechanism, cam and single revolution clutch with motor, etc.

The paste applicator post 23 is a plate with suitable ductways to convey the adhesive from the discharge of the check valve assembly to the nozzle body 24. Such body 24 consists of cartridge heaters (not shown), thermoswitch 46 to control the temperature of the body, and a screen or filter 47. The duct 48 of post 23 communicates with a vertical duct 49a and a horizontal manifolding trough 49b in the nozzle body 7A to allow conveyance of paste to the nozzle plate 25. The nozzle plate 25 can be made up with a series of holes 50 which determine the pattern of applied paste. By changing the number and configuration of the holes in plate 25 paste may be applied to a plane, line or point. Such plate 25 is attached to the body 24 by means of screws 51.

The triggering mechanism 27 provides a mechanical means for sensing when paste should start and stop. It operates on the air cylinder by means of a switch and four-way air valve.

At the start of operation the system is primed with paste, which means that the ducts 48 and 49a, trough 49b, check valve 21 and the void created in cylinder 22 with the air piston retracted, are filled with paste. At this stage the balls 32a and 32b are seated as shown in FIGURE 4. On a signal from the triggering mechanism 27, air is allowed to flow to the pressure side of the air cylinder, which moves the internal paste piston forward and forces paste through hole 52 thereby unseating ball 32a (FIGURE 6). This pushes the paste through hole 53, all communicating ducts and trough, thence through void in the internal cylinder caused by the action of the internal piston retracting. The applicator is thus primed for the next application.

FIGURES and 11 show the upper paste applicator which differs from the lower paste applicator insofar as the means for ducting the paste through the bottom of the reservoir. In such case the duct 55 and the post 56 replace the post 23. A hole is required in the bottom of the reservoir to connect the holes in duct 55 and post 56. In other respects the operation is the same as that for .the lower paste applicator. It should be understood that by changing the ducting means paste may be applied in any plane at any angle.

The amount of paste dispensed per stroke is dependent upon the diameter of the internal cylinder and the stroke of the external air cylinder. Should less amounts of paste be required the restriction of the air cylinder stroke would be necessary. Should greater amounts of paste be required the piston stroke and diameter of internal cylinder may be changed. Additional adjustment of the quantity of the paste deposited may be accomplished by controlling the speed with which the air cylinder moves forward during the pressure stroke.

In my copending application Ser. No. 327,596 filed Dec. 3, 1963, the use of this paste applicator is shown for sealing random size cartons. The design of the nozzle and the method of application make it possible for the cartons to be handled in this manner at high speeds. Although the use herein and in such copending application is for cartons, it will be understood that this applicator can also be used in any machine which calls for intermittent paste application, such as overwrapping machines, bundling machines, form and fill machines, bag sealers, and the like.

Sincecerta-in changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof,

it is intended that all matter contained in the above de- 1. A machine for applying paste in controlled amounts to the flaps of a container, comprising a paste reservoir, a paste applicator mounted adjacent said reservoir comprising a nozzle body having a nozzle plate thereon, ducts interconnecting said nozzle body and said plate, a paste cylinder assembly, a check valve assembly, an external power actuated air cylinder in line with the internal paste cylinder assembly, said check valve assembly having an intake opening with means for receiving heated paste from said reservoir, a discharge opening with means for delivering paste to said nozzle body, and also having check valves responsive to the piston for determining the direction of flow of paste and for cutting off the flow of paste to prime the applicator for the next application of heated paste to said flaps, said paste cylinder assembly having a piston actuated by said air cylinder and which on the pressure stroke forces paste from the cylinder,

through the check valve assembly, ducts of the nozzle.

body to the nozzle plate thereon, and on the suction stroke of said piston sucks paste from the reservoir to the check valve assembly and cylinder, heating elements connected to the bottom of said paste reservoir for heating the paste contents within said reservoir to a condition of .easy flow, a thermoswitch to control temperature of the nozzle body, sensing means to actuate said power actuated air cylinder, said sensing means being responsive to' touching movement With the flap surfaces to which the paste is applied.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said nozzle body carries a thermoswitch to control the temperature of the body and a filter for the paste fed to the plate and wherein the nozzle plate is interchangeable and each such plate carries a specific series of holes to defin the desired pattern for the applied paste.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,122,616 12/1914 Kuebler et a1 118-41l X 2,833,242 5/1958 Neidich et al 118-4l1 X 2,898,820 8/1959 Keely 1182 X 2,914,108 11/1959 Coa'kley 1184l1 3,056,384 10/1962 Beale .et al 118411 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

I. P. MCINTOSH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MACHINE FOR APPLYING PASTE IN CONTROLLED AMOUNTS TO THE FLAPS OF A CONTAINER, COMPRISING A PASTE RESERVOIR, A PASTE APPLICATOR MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID RESERVOIR COMPRISING A NOZZLE BODY HAVING A NOZZLE PLATE THEREON, DUCTS INTERCONNECTING SAID NOZZLE BODY AND SAID PLATE, A PASTE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY, A CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY, AN EXTERNAL POWER ACTUATED AIR CYLINDER IN LINE WITH THE INTERNAL PASTE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY, SAID CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY HAVING AN INTAKE OPENING WITH MEANS FOR RECEIVING HEATED PASTE FROM SAID RESERVOIR, A DISCHARGE OPENING WITH MEANS FOR DELIVERING PASTE TO SAID NOZZLE BODY, AND ALSO HAVING CHECK VALVES RESPONSIVE TO THE PISTON FOR DETERMINING THE DIRECTION OF FLOW OF PASTE AND FOR CUTTING OFF THE FLOW OF PASTE TO PRIME THE APPLICATOR FOR THE NEXT APPLICATION OF HEATED PASTE TO SAID FLAPS, SAID PASTE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY HAVING A PISTON ACTUATED BY SAID AIR CYLINDER AND WHICH ON THE PRESSURE STROKE FORCES PASTE FROM THE CYLINDER, THROUGH THE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY, DUCTS OF THE NOZZLE BODY TO THE NOZZLE PLATE THEREON, AND ON THE SUCTION STROKE OF SAID PISTON SUCKS PASTE FROM THE RESERVOIR TO THE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY AND CYLINDER, HEATING ELEMENTS CONNECTED TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID PASTE RESERVOIR FOR HEATING THE PASTE CONTENTS WITHIN SAID RESERVOIR TO A CONDITION OF EASY FLOW, A THERMOSWITCH TO CONTROL TEMPERATURE OF THE NOZZLE BODY, SENSING MEANS TO ACTUATE SAID POWER ACTUATED AIR CYLINDER, SAID SENSING MEANS BEING RESPONSIVE TO TOUCHING MOVEMENT WITH THE FLAP SURFACES TO WHICH THE PASTE IS APPLIED. 